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George Pollock State KidIssue 44
Student of Machiavelli
“Billy, wake up,” said David Weatherall, shaking one sleep-deprived young guy. ”Youhave to come. It's unbelievable what's happening,”“What? What?” Billy asked, blinking. “Was I asleep?”“Out. Almost an hour. Listen, it's the lead story on all the channels. Your face iseverywhere. The phone is ringing nonstop.”“How are they covering it?”A smile spread over Weatherall's face. “Come on, see for yourself. It's almost time for theone o'clock news.”They headed for the day room with Billy's entourage, led by Johnson Johnson and BillyRuggieri, falling in step.“Has Waters gotten anywhere?” Billy asked.“He had two long talks with the governor. You can tell they're tight. He got right throughand it was all ‘What's going on, buddy?’ and ‘How ya hittin 'em?'’”“Where were their heads?”“You can sort of tell the governor knows what's going on; he's just not saying it. Watersisn't saying it, either; he's just trying to cover his___.”“In other words, wait until the media and civilians leave, then squash us.”“I'd say that's about it.”“Nothing on releases?”“They're still in the 'what is in it for us' phase.”“Slimy snakes.”“What else?”“You got a zillion calls. Vera took them -- I was busy with Waters. She got the names andnumbers. Did a good job. Feisty, too.”“There's Billy Stone!” a voice shouted.***The press swarmed, thrusting microphones and cameras and shouting questions. Billythought,
Why do they do that?
“Do you deny that you killed Julio de Cruz?” asked a young reporter. The reporter seemed not much older than himself.“This morning we presented overwhelming evidence pointing to Roger Stansky as the
 
killer of Julio de Cruz. Please, can we move on?”“Do you know that Joy Stojak ran away?”“Yes.”“Do you have any idea where she is?”“I can tell you this -- she's in a safe place. She has formally charged her father, Frank Stojak Sr., of repeated assault. A letter containing these charges has been hand-deliveredto District Attorney John Conroy. Incidentally, her statement completely exonerates me.”The reporters wrote in their notebooks.“Why don't
 you
tell the truth, Stone?”It was the skeptical officer, Sgt. Frank Tancredi, grisly, hard-edged, a veteran with manyyears of service. Pushing his way through the reporters, he stood on the perimeter of Billy's guards and said, “Why don't you tell them that you orchestrated this whole day totalk your way out of here?”Billy grinned wickedly. “Ladies and gentlemen of the press, don't waste your time withme. Interview the good officer here. Sounds to me like he has a great scoop!”The reporters laughed.“Why don't you ask Mr. Stone why you haven't been able to talk to Director Carson?”Billy made a mock serious face. “You're right, officer. It's time I got serious and told thetruth. The reason you have not been able to interview Director Carson is that we areholding him prisoner in his office with a gun to his head. Congressman Waters is also a prisoner. And also Father Colahan and Dr. Bridges and Dr. Kurlan. Seriously, Director Carson asked me to tell you that he will be holding a news conference later thisafternoon. At the moment, he and Congressman Waters are having extensive discussionswith the Governor, juvenile justice officials, social services and others. He's eager to meetwith you and answer all your questions.”“When are they going to let you and the others out?”“Soon, very soon. I'm very happy.”“Have you talked to the Governor?”“No, I haven't talked to the Governor myself, but Congressman Waters and Director Carson have done so on my behalf. I'm very grateful to them for that.”“Did they talk about a release time for you?”“I believe they did. All I know is that the Governor is very pleased with what Director Carson has done and wants to do the right thing. Now, if you will excuse me, there will be a press conference this afternoon. Also, we expect a statement from the Governor soon. Thank you.”Billy and his entourage plowed through the press gantlet.***“Now Conroy has to act,” David Weatherall said.“How can he not?”
 
“Judge Salera, too.”“How can she not?”“Diabolical. My compliments.”Arriving at the dayroom, they found it packed with people eating lunch, talking andwatching TV. They were the same oil-and-water mix of humanity from the dining hall:East Side mothers, inmates, Fairview students and a few police officers. Billy chatted allaround, except with the officers, who eyed him stone-faced.“Good job handling that cop,” David Wetherall whispered into Billy's ear.“That reminds me.”Billy spoke softly to Johnson Johnson and Billy Ruggieri, and they hurried off.“What was that about?” David Weatherall asked.“I told them to take care of that cop.”“What?”“Don't worry. We're just uninviting him.”“You know, you're a ruthless tyrant -- downright Machiavelian.”“Look, this is war. This is not Fairfield against Amherst on a Saturday afternoon where if you lose, so what, it's just a game. If I lose, I get living death. I don't intend to lose.”“I must tell you, my good friend, that your methods are nevertheless frightening. More toyour credit, so is your clarity.”One troublesome officer soon had an iron glove laid upon him. Five inmates jumped himin an out-of-the-way spot on his way to Carson's office and hustled him away to solitaryconfinement. His abductors left him gagged and bound, but with the consolation of knowing that he had been right.The TV news came on. All attention turned to the black and white television high up in afar corner. Sure enough, Granite City was the lead story. A chirpy young woman anchor said:
Good afternoon. We have an inspiring story today, which is ongoing at this hour, from theGranite City School for Boys, a maximum security juvenile detention center in Fairviewwhere a fatal stabbing took place just three days ago. Senior Correspondent KellyMcGee is on the scene.
The camera panned around the outside of the school and the crowds, then went to thedining hall. There, with the panel in the background and Billy standing beside Mrs. deCruz as she spoke, the reporter said:
 Behind me is a scene from Community Dialogue Day here, an event that few would havethought possible -- inmates and prison officials cooperating openly in a search for truthand justice. Billy Stone, the fugitive who was captured last year after eluding police for months, has been offering information before a panel made up of School Director William Carson and other community leaders.Stone presented the panel and press with numerous eyewitness statements saying that thekiller of Julio de Cruz was another inmate, Roger Stansky, who subsequently escaped.
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